The English Football League has opened a formal investigation into COH Sports, the American investment group that acquired Sheffield United FC in December 2024, over allegations that shares in the club’s holding company were quietly transferred to a new entity. The probe, launched on July 8, 2026, centers on whether COH Sports moved shares to a company called 1919 Partners LLC, a maneuver that, if confirmed, raises serious questions about regulatory compliance and financial obligations in English football.
At the heart of the dispute is roughly £35 million that Prince Abdullah bin Musaed Al Saud, the club’s former owner, claims he’s still owed from the takeover. His investment entity, United World, has escalated things to the High Court with a winding-up petition against COH Sports Bidco Limited.
A takeover that started messy and got messier
The COH Sports acquisition of Sheffield United was completed for approximately £100-105 million in late 2024, with an initial payment of around £30 million. The rest was supposed to follow on a structured payment schedule. It didn’t.
Payments due during the 2025-2026 period have reportedly been late or missed entirely. According to the claims from United World, some payments were only made under the threat of legal action.
